Bringing in Blanton

Posted by | July 17, 2008 at 11:39 PM

For those who wanted the Phillies to add a No. 2 starter, Joe Blanton doesn't fit the bill. He has only had an ERA under 3.60 once in his 3 1/2 full seasons. He has struggled at times this year in going 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA.

In acquiring Blanton from Oakland for three minor league prospects, the Phillies saw positives beyond those numbers. They saw a pitcher capable of throwing a lot of innings -- his 127 this year ranked sixth in the American League, and his 230 last season were second in the AL. They saw a 27 year-old righty that wouldn't be eligible for free agency until after the 2010 season.

Perhaps most importantly of all, they saw an upgrade over one of their in-house starters, Adam Eaton. While Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle wouldn't say who would leave the rotation to make room for Blanton, Eaton is the obvious choice.

The Phillies gave up a decent package for Blanton. Second baseman Adrian Cardenas began this year as their top position-player prospect. Left-hander Josh Outman was viewed as someone who may help in a relief role. The Phillies also traded outfielder Matt Spencer as the third piece in the deal.

For the Phillies, a team with an in-its-prime nucleus, sacrificing some of the future for the present made sense.

I'll have some more reaction to this deal after having some additional time to digest it. For now, here are some comments from Blanton and Arbuckle that didn't make it in the paper.

Blanton, on coming to the Phillies: "I'm really excited about the situation I'm coming into. I'm going to a team I played against and pitched against. I think they have a great team and I'm looking forward to joining them."

Arbuckle, on the prospects the Phillies dealt: "Adrian Cardenas is a quality hitter. He has a chance to be a .300 hitter in the big leagues. It's tough to move a young player of that stature. Josh Outman has really come on, even in the last few weeks. His command is really improving. He's a guy who is going to be a good big league pitcher, and not in the too distant future."

Blanton, on moving from a pitchers' park to a hitters' park: "I personally feel as a pitcher that sometimes the park doesn't make a huge difference. I feel like as a pitcher, if you do your job, keep hitters off balance, move the ball in and out, and the biggest thing I like to do is keep the ball on ground, I feel like if you go out and do your job it shouldn't make any difference."

Blanton's career numbers have been better in Oakland than on the road. His home ERA of 3.79 is nearly a run lower than his 4.78 road ERA.